Showcasing the best bites in Austin!

austin

I love a good cookie! Not sure if many of you know, but I’ve had my own baking business on the side, Choco-Latte, for 6 years and make an “Infamous Chocolate Chip” that is my best seller. I haven’t had time to bake much due to a day job in consulting, however, one of these days, I’d love to bake for you. In the meantime, I do crave a really good cookie every now and then, so here is my round up of MY favorite cookies in Austin right now!

Teddy V. Patisserie

I’ve been a fan of Teddy V. cookies since at least 2017. I remember meeting the owner, Elisia, at the Mueller Farmer’s Market one sunny Sunday and she was hosting a contest at that time – post a picture of your cookie on IG and a lucky winner could win a cookie party! I won! By then, I was consuming at least 1 of her cookies a week – I’d cut it up into quarters since these were some serious cookies, and I wanted it to last me a few enjoyable sessions 🙂

Anyway, that’s the beginning of me spreading my Teddy V. love and now, these cookies are so popular that Elisia has quit her job to make cookies for all of us FULL TIME! She’s got walnut chocolate chip cookies available for all those chocolate + nut lovers! And occasionally, a gluten free version too!

Snag you a cookie or two at the Lakeline or Mueller Farmer’s Markets on Saturdays and Sundays or at one of her pop ups all over town. She of course takes special orders and you can even order and get your cookies shipped all over the U.S.! Check out the Vessel map up above for a cookie “cake” I ordered for my birthday!

These beauties are a third of a lb each!

Otherside Deli

Imagine you’re looking for a delish pastrami sandwich, the best in Austin, and you make your way out to Otherside Deli. You enjoy said pastrami sandwich and catch a glimpse in the distance of what looks to be a chocolate chip cookie. You inquire about said chocolate chip cookie and Chef responds, oh ya, it’s the last one and there is a sprinkle of sea salt on there. Want one? You quickly respond YES!

I’m obsessed with Otherside’s cookie. It’s that perfect blend of bittersweet chocolate and salt and just the right size to be consumed in one sitting!

A little bit of crisp, a whole lotta chocolate and a tad of salt!

Thoroughbread

I was on a mission to try ThoroughBread out one day. I went on a weekday a little after lunchtime thinking this would be the best time to miss the lunch crowd. I was right! It was just me and my coworkers enjoying the sights and aromas of so many cookies! Check out my Vessel map above for a couple videos of the cookie display.

I wanted to branch out from my usual choice of a chocolate chip cookie and got the PB&J cookie instead. WOWWWWWW! The jam in this cookie was truly exceptional. You’ll have to see the video in my Vessel map to sneak a peek into the inside of this incredible creation!

The banana nutella is one of their signature cookies! You’ll have to break it open to see the surprise!

Hot’l Coffee

The cutest coffee shop that has a living room that is the perfect spot to work, read a book, chat with a friend, Hot’l Coffee at The Carpenter Hotel, has one of the tastiest cookies in Austin too!

Pair this Sea Salt Chocolate Chip cookie with a golden latte and be prepared to settle in for all the cozy vibes! TBH, I’ve gone in just for the cookie after eating a solid lunch at Carpenter’s Hall and feeling extremely full. It’s so worth it!

The perfect size cookie – and I dip it into this golden latte because ooey gooey warmth!

Henbit

Not too long ago, if you wanted to enjoy the Monster Cookie from Henbit, you had to visit Fareground since that’s where Henbit is located. Lucky for those of us who don’t work downtown and also don’t want to fight parking, you can find these Monster Cookies at Whole Foods downtown!

Chocolate + Nut lovers rejoice as Henbit’s cookie is the perfect combo of both and it’s huge! This is a cookie I portion into quarters to savor over a few days much like my approach to Teddy V.’s!

Warm it up for a few and enjoy the gooey-ness without the mushy-ness!

Check out that distribution!

I have a few more cookies that I love but don’t have pics of at the moment so come back here for an update very soon!

Gosh, I think this is the 3rd year I’ve consistently dined at Andiamo and obvi it is dang good or I wouldn’t keep going back!

If you haven’t been, this gem has been serving up authentic Italian food in North Austin for 15 years! It’s Woman-Owned and Operated and definitely worthy of all the accolades it receives and continues to receive.

Spring has blessed us with its presence, and with that comes all of the gorgeous, vibrant-colored ingredients! Something about veggies and pasta makes the #carb life seem a bit more manageable right?

I was invited in to try some of the new additions to the lunch and dinner menus and honestly, I can’t tell you which one was my favorite because I’d gladly order each and every one of these dishes again!

One of the best dang garlic breads I’ve ever eaten!

This salad with grapefruit, strawberries, feta and arugula was so refreshing!

If you go for dinner, order the Insalata Tricolore – with shaved fennel, orange segments, and goat cheese, this will be the perfect appe-teaser!

I’m a huge ravioli lover, especially when mushrooms are involved. These were stuffed with mushrooms, ricotta and swiss chard and extremely addictive!

New for Spring, the Gnocchi Primaverra is loaded with green peas, radishes, bell peppers, onions and lemon zest! And who doesn’t love potato pillows!?! These are light and packed with flavor!

Oh so green but oh so good, the Spaghetti Verdi was probably one of my fave dishes of the day!

If you love brussel sprouts and pancetta as much as I do, the Penne con Cavoletti is for you!

If the Linguine with calamari and black mussels is on the menu, I usually order it even with my tomato allergy – it’s everything!

Perfectly cooked trout with capers – hello heaven!

Save room for dessert! The Millefoglie is a MUST – and it’s a great palate cleanser (if you needed an excuse to eat dessert)

As you can tell, I’m a huge fan of Andiamo! The dishes are so creative and this is what I imagine real Italian food tasting like in Italy. Now, it’s time to plan a trip to Italy stat!

I LOVEEEE a good sandwich that has me craving the same one over and over again. Growing up, I would make the same sandwich to take for lunch at school EVERY DAY for a year – and then, I’d get sick of it (after eating it every day for a year) and switch to another. I’m so weird right? One year it was turkey and pepperjack cheese. Another year it was smoked ham and cheddar. Another year it was cracked pepper turkey and pepperjack. Point is, me and sandwiches go wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back!

So here are the spots that I love to enjoy a good ole sammie at the moment – the list can AND WILL change given my mood 🙂 My favorite embedded Vessel map below has pictures by location, so check it out for the full scoop and mouthwatering pics/videos!

Little Deli & Pizzeria

Hello hidden gem of a pizza and sandwich shop in the Crestview neighborhood! Why the heck didn’t I go here sooner? We showed up at a random time on a Saturday – random meaning not lunch or dinner time but right smack in between aka 3PM-ish. They were packed! Kids, dogs, adults sitting outside and ordering inside…I mean, the weather that day was epic so I can’t blame people for hanging, but woah, I was shocked!

Loved the Italian Sub and the Chicken Salad so much and we’re heading back soon for some ‘za!

Otherside Deli

When this hot spot opened up off W. 34th Street, it became the talk of the town! Quite literally, my Instagram feed blew up with pictures of their reuben and pastrami sandwiches.

Being married to one of the biggest pastrami lovers I know, I made it my mission to take the Hubs there. In fact, I love him so much that I took him there for his birthday weekend 🙂

I ordered the Otherside Italian for myself and hubs got the Otherside (with Pastrami), and I quote him “This is the best pastrami I’ve ever eaten.” So there folks…I’m not sure why you aren’t headed there as you’re reading this!

My Italian sandwich was one of the best I’ve had as well. Love their house vinegar that they add to it. And pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee don’t leave without ordering a chocolate chip cookie with sea salt sprinkled on top – best cookies in Austin post coming soon, FYI!

Carpenter’s Hall

I’m quite literally obsessed with the new Carpenter Hotel. Have you been? From delish golden lattes, to super amazing pastries, to incredible BRUNCH, LUNCH, DINNER AND LATE NIGHT, you will not go wrong here. They’re open to the public so you don’t have to actually stay there to enjoy their food.

I’ve tried a heck of a lot of food there and I can’t tell you if there is one thing that is my favorite. I’d eat everything I’ve eaten again and again!

Their sourdough bread is quite beautiful and perfectly prepared. A friend of mine had the Roast Beef Sandwich and really enjoyed it. Hubs got the Reuben – TALK ABOUT STACKED! Too big to hold both halves in one hand for a pic, y’all. Also, too dang delicious to not finish on the spot 🙂

Austin Daily Press

This favorite Eastside spot of mine has shown up in a couple of my blog posts for many reasons. 1) epic sandwiches 2) 2 locations within 2 miles of my house 3) JALAPENO HUSHPUPPIES 4) lots of veggie options for those days you need to eat veggies but you don’t feel like eating a dinky salad.

Their bread for the Tortas is incredible. Made by Bellows Bakery, the rolls are freaking delish – like you could eat them on their own – but whyyyyy do that when you can eat a delish roll stuffed with all the goodness?

A couple of my faves happen to be their veggie options – Caul Me and Mad Beets. I equally love the Lucille (think banh mi sandwich) and the Charlie (flank steak).

ALWAYS pair your sandwich with an order of jalapeno hushpuppies. If you don’t, I will disown you – NOT JOKING!

Walton’s Fancy & Staple

I’m kind of jealous of people who live in walking distance of Walton’s. I’d be there all the time if I lived close or worked nearby. Parking isn’t the easiest given all the construction on W. 6th these days. However, if you’re in the area, please drop in and eat EVERYTHING!

They’ve got a Fancy Lunch option that is my go-to – half of a Ham on Pretzel and a Cesar Salad. Their pretzel roll with Ham is the perfect combo! Treat yourself afterwards (or before, I won’t judge) to a macaron or cake or a latte!

Loro

When two well-known Chefs/Restaurant Owners collaborate and open a restaurant together, YOU GO! Chef Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin combined their genius skills to create Loro. Think Asian Smokehouse when you go and plan to be pleased as heck.

Ok, so I think my favorite sandwich is one that has Turkey in it. And remember, hubs loves a good Reuben.

Enter Loro’s TURKEY REUBEN. It’s heavenly…you’ve got to try it and prove otherwise. The turkey is perfectly smoked. The sandwich is perfectly toasted. It can’t get any tastier…

Biderman’s Deli

With two locations in Austin, you’re not too far from enjoying one of the best sandwiches in ATX. I stopped by the downtown location recently and ordered the Turkey & Swiss (surprise surprise)! I had to eat the sandwich in 2 sittings because that’s how huge it was! So so good…their bread, the turkey…the swiss. Gah!

And they now use Rosen’s Bagels for their bagels so EPIC AND INCREDIBLE BAGELS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR DEVOURING at breakfast too!

Uncle Nicky’s

The ultimate collab of Via313, Nickle City and Juniper, Uncle Nicky’s is the best of Italian sandwiches, pastries, Negronis all packed into the cutest Hyde Park neighborhood spot.

We went for a late dinner on a cold wintery day in the ATX, so it was quite crowded inside. They’ve got a cute patio but come on, it was too cold to sit out there the night we dropped in.

A counter-service spot, we ordered the Italian Tuna and Hots Sandwich, Classico Pane Tostato and the PB&J Pane Tostato.

Wowzasssssssssssssssssssssss….speechless, friends! Everything was so so good. The pane tostatos are small so get a few if you’re hungry. But they’re absolutely divine. The sandwich was substantial and LEGIT!

I’ll be going back in for lunch ASAP so I can get my hands on some of their Cruellers, donuts, ham & eggs!

Easy Tiger

No sandwich list is complete with including Easy Tiger. Afterall, they make most of the bread that restaurants use for their own sandwiches!

With 3 locations in Austin – Linc, E. 6th and Cedar Park – they’ve pretty much got the city covered.

Any guesses what sandwich I love and get every time? Come on now…you know me! If you guessed Smoked Turkey, you’re the WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER! I just can’t get enough of that avocado chimichurri and those pretty watermelon radishes inside.

As #SXSW gets more and more popular ever year and our ever-growing Austin gets more populated, I stay farther and farther away from all things SXSW. However, I received an invite to attend a dinner event at the Hotel St. Cecilia, and I couldn’t turn either down, and I’m sooooo glad I went.

Imagine showing up to a magical gem off of South Congress, Hotel St. Cecilia, and entering a spectacular tent setup with 2 very long tables decorated to the 9’s – like a super fancy dinner reception!

All we knew prior to showing up was there would be a 6-course meal headed our way and towards the end of the meal we’d find out who ITK Restaurant Group was. I’m pretty sure everyone who was in attendance had Google-d ITK before showing up…the Googling failed though because you wouldn’t find anything under that name on the interwebs.

How beautiful is this setup?Loved the tablescape!

The first of the 6-course meal came in a cup on our table with hand-poured Vegetable Brodo…super refreshing! Not pictured but here is the menu!

Concasse of beet, strawberry, and watermelon – my favorite course of the night!Risotto – super creamy – loved the squash bacon on top – not bacon y’all!4th Course – Crudo Trio – loved the halibut ceviche and the salmon was perfectly seared!One of the best steaks I’ve had – and this wasn’t even a steakhouse! Dessert – Lemon Curd and Chocolate Divoricados with a raspberry lavender demi – so so good!

And then they finally announced who the ITK Restaurant group was —- any guesses?? We were blown away and pleasantly surprised when we found out ITK = In The Kitchen with HEB! All of the ingredients were from a local HEB and a few Chefs from HEB prepared our entire 6-course meal in a very small kitchen at the Hotel St. Cecilia.

What an incredible night and the wait was well-worth it!

We each walked away with a copy of the recipes from the night. Comment if you want any of them? Everything is approachable, easily prepared at home and ingredients can be found at your local HEB = WINNING!

Love supporting local and a company (HEB) that is so supportive and philanthropic of its community.

Thanks to my foodie friend I met through Instagram, @AustinFoodAdventures, I had the opportunity to try out so many dishes on Lucky Robot’s lunch menu.

Lucky Robot has been on South Congress for as long as I can remember but only recently has it come to my attention that they’re Austin’s first sustainable sushi restaurant. I don’t know about you, but I’m hyper aware of how our food choices impact the environment and what is left of Mother Earth. It’s great to support a local restaurant that is offering up dishes with only environmentally-responsible seafood. By making that choice, they’re protecting the ocean and its inhabitants!

I’ve dined at Lucky Robot for dinner several times and finally tried out their lunch. The Chirashi Bot is only available during lunch and that’s why we chose lunchtime to visit! Boy am I so glad I got my hands on that beautiful bowl of all the sashimi! Gah, so dang good!

Feast your eyes on this bowl of tuna, salmon, amberjack, and striped bass sashimi on a bed of sushi rice, avocado, English cucumbers, daikon picklets and a 144 degree egg! I’ll be eating this for lunch everytime I visit Lucky Robot…believe me!

The Schoolgirl Bowl rings all things comfort. Loaded with chicken breast, scallions, and a ton of veggies, eat this dish WARM and savor every bite.

I love a good Okonomiyaki so when I saw they had the Nomnomiyaki on the menu, we had to order it. A Japanese savory pancake with PORK BELLY, napa cabbage, a sunny side up egg, spicy mayo, and all the goodness – you’re not going to want to leave a single drop!

Whenever there is Chicken Karaage on the menu, I get it. These spicy Japanese-style chicken nuggets are to die for!

Where my Vegan friends at? The Farmbot features local farm box veggies, red quinoa, avocado, CASHEW CHEESE in a soy paper – I COULD HAVE EATEN ALL OF THIS BY MYSELF!

Next time you’re out strolling Soco, stop at Lucky Robot and order a ton of Japanese goodness! You won’t go wrong with whatever you choose and you can rest easy knowing you’re eating sustainable fish too!

And if you needed even more of an incentive to go — Happy Hour is M-F from 4:00-6:00PM and they’ve got a weekend happy hour during their Tokyo Brunch from 10:30-11:30AM (brunch is 10:30-3:00PM).

I was invited in by Artista Rosso for a blogger’s brunch preview before the official launch of Brunch service on 12/1. I’m going to be a frequent brunch-er there because HELLO NUTELLA BAR!

If you’ve been to the space at Lamar Union, previously Delicious, the newly renovated spot features a market for the neighboring residents, a coffee bar, an extensive wine selection, a full draught beer selection and tons of grab-and-go items. They’ve also obviously got a kitchen and are whipping out amazing Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour and Brunch!

As you can tell from the pictures below, we had a feast! I’ll definitely be visiting again very soon because they’ve got crepes (made to order with lots of nutella!), cannolis (fill them with goodness), and all kinds of other super addictive delicious items that I’m a fan of.

It took me ages to finally brunch at Foreign & Domestic but better late than never! My dinner experiences have always been amazing, but after Chefs Heard and Lemley took over the restaurant, I’ve been itching to get over there.

Did you know FnD is one of Austin’s original nose to tail restaurants? You’ll be blown away by their creations and the use of the absolute freshest local ingredients.

I went in with my eye on the Fried Chicken Biscuit because I’m more of a savory brunch eater, but I was quickly convinced that I needed to try the Blackberry Crepe. I’m so happy I did – it wasn’t sweet, the ricotta and lemon and blackberries went so dang well with each other, and I ended up wanting more!

Isn’t it gorgeous?

The pancakes were served with a dollop of peach jam and whipped cream and they were super fluffy!

If you love Zucchini bread as much as me, this one has got to be on your list!

Zucchini Bread with lime creme fraiche

And do not leave without ordering the Gruyere and Black Pepper Popovers…oh my word!

Gruyere and Black Pepper Popovers – speechless!

I love any and all meat from 44 Farms and this Steak and Eggs did not disappoint!

44 Farm Steak and Eggs

And finally, what I initially had my eyes and stomach set on, the Fried Chicken Biscuit…look at that egg yolk!

Fried Chicken Biscuit with a sunny side up egg, red eye gravy and lemon confit

Chef Heard’s desserts are to die for, and even though we were stuffed to the brim, we got to try the Olive Oil Cake with Plums – again, no words to describe the yumminess!

Olive Oil Cake with smoked plums and fenugreek ice cream

So, after reading and seeing my pics, are you convinced that your next brunch HAS to be at FnD? I hope so 🙂

Still Austin Whiskey invited us in for a tour of their distillery as well as a couple of cocktails this weekend! I’ve been by before – love the aesthetics of this place! And, even better, they’re located in The Yard, where you can grab you a coffee at Spokesman, a beer at St. Elmo, and some delish Hot Gai at Soursop all on the same day! Emojis Grill Cheese is in the outdoor space of Still too and their Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese is to die for!

Still has whiskey and gin cocktails now! Grab you a bottle of their whiskeys or gins to-go too. The bottles are so pretty and the cocktails are gorgeous and refreshing.

The Bees Knees on the left and Gimlet on the right – both were very good and of course, photogenic 🙂

If you didn’t know, Still Austin Whiskey is the first whiskey distillery in Austin city limits since prohibition. They’re still scaling up and distilling as they’ve only been open for right at a year now. Stay tuned for even more whiskey and gin to come. But stop on by next time you’re in the area. It’s really a beautiful space serving up some delicious bevs!

You know how you have one or two go-to spots in Austin for that consistent great food and experience? Revelry Kitchen + Bar is that spot for me and the hubs. The staff have been there from the beginning (their 1st anniversary is coming up) and they keep their menu fresh and seasonal. Quite unusual for East 6th Street and what people know as the “bar” scene in Austin.

Revelry’s Beverage Director, Alana, is simply a genius when it comes to creating new seasonal cocktails. We tried out the new “If Figs Could Fly” and Pomegranate Margarita because the hubs loves an old fashion and I love pomegranate.

NOLA Style BBQ Shrimp – be careful, these have the shell on them but you can eat it if you want! Spicy and tasty!

Loved the cauliflower hummus with veggie chips and veggies!

Next time you’re on the Eastside and want some solid food at a normal time or even late, head on in to Revelry Kitchen + Bar. The cocktails, draft beers, wine and food is all on point. They have happy hour all week long as well as daily specials! Their brunch on Sundays for #SundayFunday is one of the best in town!

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About

Shveta Moller is a Food Blogger based out of Austin, TX, and runs the popular Instagram account @atx_bites.
She also curates @top_austin_restaurants of the #topcitybites group. She's Social Chair of the Austin Food Blogger's Alliance @atxfoodblogs, an Ambassador of Vessel @Vessel.Edit, and an Influencer for Foodie Tribe @FoodieTribe.
Shveta is passionate about all things food, health, and wellness, and is an IIN Certified Integrative Nutrition Coach, as well.
When she's not working or foodstagramming, you can find Shveta at a live music show around town, picking fresh veggies from her backyard garden or the local farmer's market, or sipping on a golden latte or matcha at one of her favorite coffee shops!
Headshot Photo Credit: Paige Newton Photography